This is a list of
Ice Age species preserved as
permafrostmummies. It includes all known species that have had their tissues partially preserved within the permafrost layer of the
Arctic and
Subarctic. Most went extinct during the
Late Pleistocene extinctions while some are still extant today. They have been listed to the most specific known taxonomic rank.
Article body
Permafrost mummies provide crucial insights into the physiology and life histories of
Pleistocene organisms, due to how well the preservation process keeps the specimens from decomposing. The constant presence of permafrost is able to preserve the soft tissues of organisms through a process similar to freeze-drying.[1] With such complete preservation of tissues, it is possible to determine numerous things from the such as: DNA, eDNA,[2] evolutionary history,[3] gut contents,[4] and trophic dynamics.[5] Studies have even shown that the process is so complete there is evidence of nucleic activity.[6]
Some of these specimens are on display at the Kingdom of the Permafrost museum near
Yakutsk.[7]
This is a list of
Ice Age species preserved as
permafrostmummies. It includes all known species that have had their tissues partially preserved within the permafrost layer of the
Arctic and
Subarctic. Most went extinct during the
Late Pleistocene extinctions while some are still extant today. They have been listed to the most specific known taxonomic rank.
Article body
Permafrost mummies provide crucial insights into the physiology and life histories of
Pleistocene organisms, due to how well the preservation process keeps the specimens from decomposing. The constant presence of permafrost is able to preserve the soft tissues of organisms through a process similar to freeze-drying.[1] With such complete preservation of tissues, it is possible to determine numerous things from the such as: DNA, eDNA,[2] evolutionary history,[3] gut contents,[4] and trophic dynamics.[5] Studies have even shown that the process is so complete there is evidence of nucleic activity.[6]
Some of these specimens are on display at the Kingdom of the Permafrost museum near
Yakutsk.[7]